Denver Broncos / NFL

Broncos wide receiver Brandon Lloyd has only 10 catches for 127 yards and no touchdowns this season.
(John Leyba, The Denver Post
)

On perhaps the Broncos' best offensive drive of the young season, their best offensive player was basically invisible.

As the Broncos put together a 16-play, 80-yard, eight-minute touchdown drive against the Tennessee Titans last week, Pro Bowl wide receiver Brandon Lloyd wasn't the target of a single play. He lined up for 15 of the 16 plays, but Kyle Orton didn't sling him a single pass.

Through three weeks and two games (he missed the Cincinnati game with a groin injury), Lloyd has caught 10 passes for 127 yards with no touchdowns.

Lloyd, who led the NFL in receiving yards (1,448) and yards per catch (18.8) in 2010, insisted this week that he's not frustrated. At least not yet.

"There's not very many people in the league that can do what I do, let alone on the team," Lloyd said. "There is still a niche that I have and a talent that should be used."

Lloyd said he believes that the design of coach John Fox and offense coordinator Mike McCoy's offense is responsible for his decreased numbers to start the season. In a run-first, ball-control type of system, the deep shots have been few and far between.

Lloyd's two longest catches of the year have been for 20 yards each, and his average is 12.7 yards per reception. The team's longest pass play was a 52-yard catch by Eric Decker against Cincinnati.

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"I think it's just us, the coaching staff staying true to running the ball. I think we've kind of gotten into a game-management mode, into an aggressive 'take control' mode, and I think that's what has limited us," Lloyd said.

Lloyd's argument is perfectly illustrated in that touchdown drive against Tennessee. Lloyd lined up wide left on 11 snaps, wide right on three others and once in the slot. Orton attempted 10 passes on the drive, none longer than 10 yards, and none to Lloyd. The Broncos also called six running plays.

"Have we played a certain style of offense the first three weeks of the season? Yes. But we'll find ways to get him the ball," McCoy said.

McCoy said the team has a number of plays designed for Lloyd, specifically long passes, in the game plan each week.

With Lloyd's reputation — well-earned in 2010 — as a weapon on the deep routes, opposing defenses frequently have been rolling a safety over to help keep Lloyd from going long.

Lloyd expects to face more man coverage from a Packers' defense ranked second- to-last against the pass. Green Bay has allowed three players to break the 100-yard receiving threshold this season, including 156 yards by Carolina's Steve Smith in Week 2.

Similar chances could be there for Lloyd this week, and Orton will be looking for him.

"He'll just have to stay patient. I'll just have to stay patient, and when the looks are there, we'll take them," Orton said.

Of course, it's the patience part that can be difficult. Lloyd is adamant that the Broncos' offense is better when he's a big part of it, and he isn't shy about letting his coaches and quarterback know it.

"I've been with Brandon a long time now, and he always wants the ball, and you always want your receivers to want the football, so I just keep telling him to run his routes hard, and we'll hit them when they're open," Orton said.

McCoy said he encourages Lloyd or any other player to contribute suggestions about the offense and the play calling.

With a player such as Lloyd, who grew used to getting the bulk of the catches a year ago, it would be surprising if he weren't asking for more targets.

"That's the way we want it to be. We have an open-door policy here, and he's a very talented player. Of course you want to get him the ball more," McCoy said.

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